معرفی
Melanie West is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Newman University, within the Faculty of Arts, Society and Professional Studies. She holds a BSc in Psychology and Health Studies from the University of Central Lancashire, a graduate diploma in Psychology from the University of Wolverhampton, an MSc in Health Psychology (with distinction) from Aston University, and a PhD from the University of Birmingham focusing on visual search, cognitive ageing, and interventions to improve attention in older adults. She is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Her research interests span cognitive psychology (visual search, eye-tracking, and interventions targeting cognitive ageing), health psychology (healthy eating, exercise, and interventions), and online behavior analysis (trolling and imagined communities). She also engages in pedagogic research at Newman. Teaching focuses on health psychology, research methods, cognitive psychology, and applied psychology, spanning MSc and undergraduate programs.
Key research contributions include studies on dementia support groups (collaborating with Age UK), obesity surgery outcomes, and online forum dynamics. Her work has been presented at conferences like the BPS DHP Annual Conference and published in journals such as Advances in Cognitive Psychology and Computers in Human Behavior.
- Awards: Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- Grants/Projects: Multiple research projects on ageing, health psychology, and trolling behavior.
Her interdisciplinary approach bridges cognitive and applied research, with a focus on real-world applications in healthcare and digital communities.
